Chandigarh, April 09, 2025: Poonawalla Fincorp Limited (PFL), a Cyrus Poonawalla Group promoted NBFC, focused on Consumer & MSME Lending, has today announced the launch of its Shopkeeper Loan Business. The solution addresses key financial challenges faced by small retailers and kirana stores, including cash flow, inventory, and customer management, while enhancing their operational efficiencies.

Building on its vision to become the preferred financier for the self-employed segment, PFL aims to enhance the competitiveness of small retail businesses through its customized financial solutions.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arvind Kapil, Managing Director & CEO of Poonawalla Fincorp, said: “India’s small retailers are the backbone of our consumer economy, yet their growth is often constrained by limited access to timely credit. With our Shopkeeper Loan, we are taking a decisive step to bridge this gap — offering tailored financial solutions that address their working capital needs and support long-term business resilience. By combining our risk-first and customer-centric approach, we aim to empower these businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive retail environment.”

Small retailers and kirana stores form an integral part of India’s traditional domestic trade, contributing significantly to local economies across semi-urban and smaller towns. However, they have historically relied on family funding. PFL believes there is a great and attractive opportunity to bring them into formal credit.

The company aims to provide tailored financial solutions to small retailers and kirana stores across India. In the first phase, PFL is operationalizing 44 locations and institutionalizing its systems for a customer-centric approach. With the launch of the Shopkeeper Loan Business, PFL has now launched 4 new businesses.

By providing targeted financial solutions through its risk-first approach, PFL aims to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, and long-term growth prospects of India’s critical small-business retail ecosystem. The company continues to focus on simplifying lending, creating customer delight, and enhancing experiences, which remain its top priorities.

Mumbai, April 09, 2025: Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (“SDHI”), a key private player in commercial & defence shipbuilding, ship repairs, and heavy fabrication in India, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE). The MoU signed on April 7, 2025, at GRSE Bhavan, marks a significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous commercial shipbuilding ecosystem. The collaboration is in line with the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and reinforces SDHI’s commitment to building world-class maritime infrastructure in the country.

The partnership aims to jointly pursue opportunities in the construction of commercial vessels and offshore structures, with an eye on catering to both global markets and domestic maritime priorities. The association will allow Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited and GRSE to combine their capabilities in design, infrastructure, and project execution to create a robust and scalable model for commercial shipbuilding. This MoU is also expected to facilitate the sharing of facilities, co-development of standard vessel platforms, and coordinated project management strategies to enable faster turnaround and greater cost-efficiency.

The partnership also envisions the evolution of a strong vendor and supply chain ecosystem, driven by shared sourcing and procurement efficiencies. Furthermore, the MoU lays a strong emphasis on building skilled manpower to support the long-term growth of the shipbuilding sector. Both companies have agreed to work together not only on the construction front, but also in areas such as vessel trials, ship repair—laying the foundation for a sustainable and comprehensive model of industrial cooperation.

The MoU between SDHI and GRSE signifies a shared vision to advance India’s shipbuilding capabilities and create future-ready infrastructure that supports maritime innovation, economic development, and job creation.

National, April 09^th,2025 – Senco Gold & Diamonds, one of India’s leading jewelry brands celebrates a legacy spanning over eight decades, Senco Gold & Diamonds reveals its newest campaign, “Khushiyon Ki Reet – #ApkaShukriya”, a heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes behind its timeless treasures—the master karigars. This emotional and captivating campaign shines a spotlight on the artisans whose unparalleled skills have transformed precious metals into enduring symbols of love, tradition, and heritage for generations.

The campaign also marks the launch of Senco’s exquisite Khushiyon Ki Reet Collection, a spectacular new range of gold, diamond, polki, and antique jewelry. Every piece in this collection embodies the finesse and flair that Senco’s karigars are known for—blending traditional artistry with a modern touch, creating heirlooms that celebrate both legacy and love.

Adding to the festive fervor, Senco Gold & Diamonds presents its much-awaited Bangle Utsav, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya, a time-honored festival associated with prosperity and gold-buying. This year, the Bangle Utsav unveils over 200 fresh designs across bangles, bracelets, charms, chur, bala, pola, and shakha, crafted in gold, diamond, and platinum, offering a perfect blend of elegance, tradition, and modernity.

“Aap ka Shukriya campaign is an ode to Karigars and the craftsmanship that SENCO’s legacy is built on. Senco means design and superior craftsmanship for over 85+ years. We thank our Karigars for their dedication and being with us through generations.,” said Joita Sen, Director of Senco Gold & Diamonds.

 With “Khushiyon Ki Reet,” Senco Gold & Diamonds reaffirms its commitment to preserving the age-old traditions of jewellery craftsmanship while evolving with the tastes of the modern consumer—because every piece is not just jewellery but a legacy in the making.

Mumbai, April 9, 2025: In a significant move towards accelerating India’s skilling goal, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s, deliberated on the “India Skills Accelerator” initiative during a high-level roundtable at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

The India Skills Accelerator will function as a national public-private collaboration platform designed to enable cross-sectoral efforts in unlocking innovative ideas and driving systemic progress on complex challenges that demand a multi-stakeholder approach. At its core, the Accelerator aims to catalyze change across three critical levels: i) by improving awareness and shifting mindsets around future skills needs, ii) increasing collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders, and iii) committing to upgrade institutional structures and policy frameworks to support a more adaptive and responsive skilling ecosystem.

As India navigates rapid technological and economic change, skill gaps – cited by 65% of organisations as a major barrier – threaten to slow progress. The Accelerator aims to close these gaps through inclusive upskilling and reskilling, mobilizing investment in lifelong learning, and fostering government-industry collaboration. By enabling agile career transitions, promoting scalable training, and aligning education with industry need – especially in high-growth sectors like AI, robotics, and energy – the initiative will empower India’s youth and drive future-ready workforce development.

The initiative’s governance structure includes key stakeholders from public and private sectors, led and co-chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education and co-chaired by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Education and Development of North-Eastern Region. It will also have two private co-chairs – Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Chairperson of Apollo HealthCo; and Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv.

In his opening remarks, Hon’ble Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary underscored the need for collective ambition and structural reform in skilling to meet the aspirations of a young, dynamic nation. He emphasized that India’s demographic potential can only be realized if skilling systems remain agile, inclusive, and closely aligned with global opportunities and national priorities. “India today stands at the confluence of three powerful forces – demographic advantage, digital transformation, and a deep developmental commitment. With the world’s largest youth population and a vibrant skilling ecosystem, we are uniquely positioned to become the Skill Capital of the World,” Shri Chaudhary said. He noted that the Accelerator is not just a platform for dialogue, but a catalyst for systemic transformation, anchored in shared accountability, innovation, and targeted solutions. “This is a chance to engage in candid assessments and meaningful dialogue – anchored in data and focused on results”

The Minister further highlighted the importance of sectoral focus, mapping our current standing through surveys and evidence, and prioritizing emerging areas such as GCCs, advanced manufacturing, and the formalization of the informal workforce.

Co-chair and Hon’ble Minister, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar articulated India’s strategic opportunity to position itself as the global epicenter of next-generation talent. He underscored the need to embed competitiveness in India’s skills architecture—particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing—so that India is not only skilling for its domestic economy but for the world. The Accelerator, he added, will play a critical role in translating this global ambition into measurable outcomes. “Through the National Education Policy, we have initiated transformative changes—promoting flexibility, vocational pathways, and digital skilling. Our federal model of implementation, involving both Centre and States, can serve as a valuable learning for global platforms like the WEF as well,” he said.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum (WEF), said, “In the face of rapid technological and labour market changes, India’s launch of the Skills Accelerator reflects a strong commitment to equipping its workforce with the skills needed for the future. By strengthening alignment across the skills ecosystem, this initiative will help close critical skills gaps, support the growth of India’s digital and innovation-driven economy, and enable more people to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. We are pleased to support this important step and look forward to the impact it will deliver at scale.”

During the roundtable, the experts underscored the significance of a comprehensive analysis of India’s skilling ecosystem and identifying a set of 10 to 12 high-impact priorities with clear and measurable outcomes. They also emphasized establish dedicated working groups to guide implementation and ensure progress is tracked through WEF’s Global Learning Network – enabling peer learning and global benchmarking. Equally emphasized was the importance of thematic working groups, drawing on the expertise of diverse stakeholders, to translate strategy into coordinated action. The participants also deliberated on aligning the newly launched initiative with insights from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report.

The session saw active participation from senior leadership of the World Economic Forum, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Directorate General of Training (DGT), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), as well as key representatives from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Chandigarh, April 09, 2025: Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited (ABSLAMC) was incorporated in the year 1994. Aditya Birla Capital Limited and Sun Life (India) AMC Investments Inc. are the promoters and major shareholders of the Company. ABSLAMC is primarily the investment manager of Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, a registered trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. The asset manager has announced the closure of ABSL Global Emerging Market Equity Fund (IFSC).  The Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under the IFSCA (fund management) at GIFT City raised a total of $69.89 million from 269 investors reinforcing ABSLAMC’s position as a leading asset manager providing global investment solutions.

The ABSL Global Emerging Market Equity Fund (IFSC) follows a passive investment strategy, primarily investing in units of the ARGA Emerging Market Equity Fund, offering investors exposure to high-growth emerging markets. The fund aligns with ABSLAMC’s vision of leveraging strategic opportunities in global financial markets while operating within India’s premier offshore financial hub – GIFT City. The fund attracted contributions from a diverse base of investors, including global institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and family offices. With its focus on long-term capital appreciation through emerging market equities, the fund aims to deliver strong value-driven returns.

Commenting on the final close, A. Balasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd., said, “the ABSL Global Emerging Market Equity Fund (IFSC) has received strong investor interest, and the fund raise is a testament of ABSLAMC’s head start in GIFT City operations. This fund was the first global outbound solution to be offered from GIFT City and provided Indian investors an opportunity to invest in global markets while also allowing them to utilise their LRS limits. The successful closure of the fund underscores the increasing confidence in emerging market opportunities and the robust regulatory framework of GIFT City. At ABSLAMC, we remain committed to providing differentiated investment solutions that enable investors to tap into global growth themes and positions us as a pioneer in offering cross-border investment opportunities through innovative fund structures.”